Síclovía to spotlight South Side on Sunday

1of2District 3 San Antonio City Councilwoman Rebecca J. Viagran (left) is photographed by her aide, Ruben G. Lizalde, after a press conference at Roosevelt Park, where the schedule for this Sunday's Síclovía was announced.Photo: erry Lara / San Antonio Express-News

2of2YMCA of Greater San Antonio Director of Community Wellness Monica Garza speaks during a press conference at Roosevelt Park on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. The schedule for this Sunday's Siclovia was announced with the route changing from Broadway Street to a route on the south side of downtown. Siclovia will start at the intersection of East Cesar Chavez Boulevard and South St. Mary's Street south to Mission Concepcion. The 2.5-mile course will be close to vehicular traffic from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is expected to draw over 65,000 people.Photo: San Antonio Express-News

SAN ANTONIO — Sunday's spring Síclovía, moved south for the first time, will be about a lot more than fitness.

As usual, the event beckons San Antonians to “play in the street” using non-motorized transportation along 2.5 miles of roads that are closed to regular traffic for five hours.

But this spring's route, from Southtown/King William to Mission Concepción, will offer everything from demonstrations of the atlatl, a spear-chucking tool of early indigenous people, to a place to take sports-themed selfies, with children's activities, a pet adoption station, tours of historic homes and dozens of other activities along the way.

Two South Side City Council members whose districts are on the route said the event, staged for the first time outside its traditional Broadway corridor, will highlight the history, artistic culture and restaurants south of downtown.

“We are setting a new standard for Síclovía as it's heading south,” Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran said at a news conference Tuesday announcing details of the event, which is held in the spring and fall and has grown from 15,000 participants in October 2011 to more than 73,000 last September.

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With a forecast of sunny weather and temperatures from morning lows in the mid-50s to highs around 80 on Sunday, organizers predicted near-record crowds.

Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, one of the most athletic members ever to serve on the council, said she hopes the event will promote “a calmer, safer and healthier community for all of us.”

“Exercise and fitness have always played a central role in my life,” said Gonzales, who rode a bicycle to the news conference and has competed in Iron Man Triathlons.

This year's event, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will start on St. Mary's Street, at César Chávez Boulevard, continue south on Roosevelt Avenue, then zigzag on Steves Avenue and Mission Road to Mission Concepción.

Walkers are asked to stay to the right of the street, as cyclists, skaters and others keep near the middle, to avoid injuries.

Organizers said the move south will highlight recent improvements along the San Antonio River on a northern part of the Mission Reach, where a network of bike lanes and trails runs more than 10 miles from downtown to Mission Espada.

Officials said they hope the event entices people to visit the Mission Reach regularly, in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

“Anybody can come out and extend their Síclovía experience” on the Mission Reach, said Monica Garza, director of community wellness with the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Participants can register Sunday for the Million Pound Challenge, a competition between Houston and San Antonio to shed pounds. Kate Rogers, chairwoman of the Mayor's Fitness Council, said having a “robust calendar of fitness events” will help the Alamo City win.

Síclovía has become the “signature event” of the fitness crusade, said Rogers, vice president of communication and engagement at H-E-B.

Scott Huddleston is a veteran staff writer at the San Antonio Express-News covering Bexar County Commissioners Court and county government.

He has been a reporter at the Express-News since 1985, covering a variety of issues, including public safety, flooding, transportation, military and veterans affairs, history and local government.

Huddleston covered the final construction phase of the SBC Center -- now AT&T Center, where the Spurs play -- in 2002, and wrote "Then&Now," a weekly historical feature, for the Sunday Metro section from 2001-2006.